REDUCING ENERGY USAGE IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
equipment . Delivering improved health and safety , it will also reduce longterm operational costs and energy consumption .
Providing quality efficient solutions within maintenance , construction and design is something Adams and
SPIE are incredibly passionate about . “ The big issues ,” he stresses , “ are energy conservation , natural resources , air quality and human wellbeing in buildings .” Growing global populations have placed a significant strain on natural resources , where demand is outstripping supply . With reports suggesting that by 2050 approximately 70 % of the population will be urban , energy use is hugely increasing over the same period .
“ Right now , we use about 70 % of the world ’ s energy in our cities , and we create about 70 % of global emissions . We are also using around 75 % of the world ’ s natural resources , which we exploit , but only for 50 % of the global population ,” explains Adams . “ We are currently outstripping the earth ’ s capability to replenish natural resources , as we take it out 50 % faster than the earth can replace it . “ The challenge is : how do we get our buildings and
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